By Jennifer J. Foster
Posted 04/02 at 11:29 PM
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Following up on my previous post—yep, legal eagles expecting a big indictment of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich were (pardon the pun) right on the money.
From CNN:
Impeached former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested in December on charges of conspiracy and fraud, was indicted Thursday on 16 felony counts by a federal grand jury, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
The 19-count indictment charges Blagojevich and some of his closest aides and advisers with a wide-ranging “scheme to deprive the people of Illinois of honest government,“ according to a statement by the attorney’s office.
Blagojevich, 52, faces charges including racketeering, conspiracy, wire fraud and making false statements to investigators, according to the release. Three counts in the indictment are against the aides and advisers.
Blago said in a written statement—
SIDEBAR: What? No poetry? I feel so cheated!! END SIDEBAR
—that he is “saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name.“
And, by the way, he really was at Disney World, hanging out by the pool when a cameraman tracked him down.
The man who was nearly ubiquitous on television for the six weeks between his arrest and his impeachment wasn’t loving the camera this time.
In the WESH video, the ex-governor was sitting near a pool at the resort. “I’m enjoying Disney World with my kids and I don’t think you’re supposed to be here,“ said Blagojevich, after his wife attempted to shield him from the camera. “I’m happy to talk to you at the appropriate time.“
A man who identified himself only as “someone who knows who he is” then blocked the camera.
Speaking of that media blitz, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) makes no secret of his wish that Blago will keep a low profile as he awaits his day in court.
“We can only hope the former governor will not view this indictment as a green light for another publicity tour,“ he said. “Rod Blagojevich deserves his day in court, but the people of Illinois deserve a break.“
Yeah, plus, you know, they don’t want to be seen with him, and he’s always reminding everyone that he’s a Democrat and stuff.
By Jennifer J. Foster
Posted 04/02 at 01:14 PM
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There’s news on the Rod Blagojevich front.
A massive indictment against the former Illinois governor could be imminent, according to political and legal pundits who are watching the case. The Associated Press reports that U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who is handling the case, has until Tuesday to get an indictment, and today is believed to be the last day the grand jury meets before then.
From the AP:
Fitzgerald could ask Chief Judge James F. Holderman of U.S. District Court for another deadline extension. But all signs point to an imminent indictment against the 52-year-old impeached governor, who denies any wrongdoing.
“We’re just hours away from a massive pay-to-play indictment against Gov. Blagojevich and possibly others,“ former federal prosecutor Patrick M. Collins said Tuesday while unveiling recommendations from a state reform commission launched in response to the scandal.
Meanwhile, what is Blago doing?
Well, true to Blago form, he’s living in his own little world.
OVERCAFFINATED TELEVISION ANNOUNCER: Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich!! You could be just hours away from being named in one of the most comprehensive federal corruption indictments against an elected official in American history!! What are YOU going to do next?
BLAGO (smiling, excited): I’m going to Disney World!!
No, seriously; Blago and his family apparently really are at Disney. The AP says “a hotel operator at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. connected a phone call to a room booked under Blagojevich. It went straight to voicemail.“
You can’t make this stuff up.
By Jennifer J. Foster
Posted 04/02 at 11:56 AM
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From FoxNews.com:
The U.S. Justice Department filed a motion Wednesday to drop its case against former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, who was convicted of seven felony counts of corruption last fall.
Attorney General Eric Holder decided to abandon the case due to prosecutorial misconduct—one Justice Department source called the stunning turnaround a “black eye” on the department and the FBI.
Stevens basked in the news, on one hand expressing satisfaction that his name had ultimately been cleared, as he had always believed it would be, but on the other expressing dismay that the news didn’t come before he lost his Senate seat to former Anchorage mayor Mark Begich.
Over on Flashpoint, my friend and fellow blogger Brian LeCompte has some fun drawing a comparison between Stevens and another disgraced-politician-turned-convicted-felon who has alleged that prosecutorial misconduct led to his wrongful conviction: Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman.
Even though Stevens is a Republican and Siegelman is a Democrat, the latter still awaits that vindicating call from the Justice Department.
Maybe they’re still working on it.
By Jennifer J. Foster
Posted 04/02 at 09:58 AM
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In a startling development that almost no one saw coming, Alabama Lt. Gov. (and former governor) Jim Folsom Jr. announced yesterday that he would run for re-election to his current post instead of seeking to succeed Gov. Bob Riley next year.
The news, which apparently wasn’t an April Fool’s prank, shakes up the gubernatorial primary as much as anything could have.
Folsom’s exit from the Democratic race leaves U.S. Rep. Artur Davis alone as an announced candidate. But, as you’ll read over at the Parlor, all eyes are now on Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks. Sparks was believed to have been planning a run for LG, but since it is widely believed that Sparks has sought to avoid a primary with Folsom at any cost, will he change course and face Davis, look to a lower-level race or take Folsom on after all?
Also as noted at the Parlor, Sparks has himself locked into an announcement (actually, four announcements—four news conferences across the state) tomorrow, so he doesn’t have a lot of time to sit around and think it over.
I encourage you to read the Parlor thread. Given the gravity of yesterday’s news and the comments provided by Danny’s readers, it is one of the best ones I have seen on state politics.
What do you think Sparks will do? Why do you think Folsom decided to forego the run for governor? And how does this affect the Republican race?
By Jennifer J. Foster
Posted 04/02 at 09:33 AM
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“This stuff is going to be met with severe action.“
That’s a quote from Stephan Haversnik, an 11-year-old 6th grader at East Shore Middle School in Milford, Conn., describing the consequences students were told to expect for the intolerable, dangerous commission of ... high-fives.
You read that right: Following a fight among students last week, the Milford school district sent home a reminder about the district’s strict NO TOUCHING policy—and since school officials apparently have no confidence in their ability to control the environment in school and dispense effective discipline, touching of any kind, including hugs and high-fives, are considered “horseplay.“
Stephan’s dad has it right: His son now attends a “sanitized school.“
What’s going to happen to these kids when they leave school and people in the world are allowed to—GASP!!—TOUCH them?????
I wonder if East Shore’s mascot is The Bubbles. If it isn’t, it should be: It’s fitting, and it’s just as dumb as the policy itself.
Watch the report here.
